Today we decided last second to visit the gold souk so we got the metro to Bur juman (4.10aed) then a short taxi ride to the textile souk (6aed),
we had a quick look around getting hassled every 2 seconds to buy something, we then hopped on an Abra to get across the creek to the gold souks which only costs 1aed.
We went the wrong direction to start with but it took us through the spice area which made for some nice pictures.
We found the gold souk eventually which was pretty amazing to see.
Kat wanted to get a wallet for a gift so a guy tried to take us up to one of the apartments but we didn't feel right so he took us to a shop where they got all the designer wallets out, she only wanted a really cheap one but the one she picked was 350aed(£58 ish) We kept telling them we only wanted something for about 60aed, eventually after a lot of talking and us trying to leave twice, they came down to 100aed(£17 ish), rather big drop so we accepted.
Then we wanted a Pashmina in another shop which they tried to sell us for 250aed(£42 ish) but again after some haggling I got them down to 60aed(£10 ish).
We then jumped back into a taxi to Union station and went back to the Marina for a swim before getting ready for dinner at the Marriott observatory restaurant.
We stuck to water because the food was at the top end of our budget but was very very nice and the view from our window table was amazing.
You get a nice selection of complementary breads and oil the for starters I had Blue crab and portobello mushroom
and Kat had the duck salad,
main I had sea bass
and Kat had vegetable tian
plus 2 large bottles of water, the bill came to 460aed(£76 ish).
We then left and headed back towards the apartment stopping for ice cream for desert, after a quick change we got the captain jack Abra cruise just out side for 60aed each but we used a voucher from the entertainer so it was only 30aed each.
The night time view of the marina from out at sea are amazing and a photographer 's dream so I was in my element.
After the cruise we headed upstairs for a beer and we'll earned sleep.
Day 6
An early start today, Kat had gone to bed feeling very ill but was much better this morning, we were promptly picked up by our driver for our Oman dhow cruise at 5:55 am (350aed Inc travel),the journey is fairly straightforward with just one other person to collect on route at what looks like a very new development quite a distance from Dubai at a Double tree Hilton hotel.
So it was just going to be 3 of us on the entire cruise :), passport control was fairly easy and cost us 85aed each,it didn't take long and we got to Khasab about 9 ish.
We got straight on the dhow which had 3 staff so one for each of us, loads of room to just keep moving about on the comfy floor cushions.
We set off and were offered soft drinks and cardamom tea which was delicious, we came past thousands of cormorants along the rocks which was quite a sight,
a little while after turning into the fjord a Dolphin came to join us which was great and I got some nice photos,
next we were shown Telegraph island
and we're told they normally stop there for snorkelling but it's currently restricted to protect the corals so we stopped a little further round and had a snorkel,
All equipment was provided including towels, they threw some food in and hundreds of brightly coloured fish surrounded us.
After a good swim,we got out and got dried and then lunch was served,this consisted of rice,vegetable curry,marinated chicken, salad and flat breads, it's was really nice.
We set off again taking in the sights and having small coastal villages pointed out
before stopping again for more snorkelling,the water was very choppy where they stopped this time so it wasn't the ideal conditions and I was the only one who went in,I swam right over to the rocks and swam along them, I saw lots of fish,and sea urchins which one of the guys caught and let us hold,a weird feeling.
As we were heading back I spotted a family of 5 dolphins with a baby one so they called them over and I got some fantastic shots, they disappeared but soon after another 3 joined us, it was wonderful seeing them in their natural habitat.
We saw thousands of cormorants packing a whole stretch of beach, probably sunbathing :)
then it was back to the dock where our driver was waiting to collect us.
After what seemed like forever we got back safe while wondering what planet the driver took his driving test on!
A quick shower then over to Dubai Marina Mall and Yo Sushi for some dinner using our Entertainer vouchers, 8 dishes and 4 diet cokes came to 61aed with the voucher.
We then hopped back on the marina water bus over to marina promenade for 3aed each and walked to JBR.
It really looks smart down there and at night looks amazing with everything lit up,
we stopped for some frozen yoghurt before heading to Rotana hotel and Rosso bar/restaurant for a cocktail,our 2 cocktails came to 97aed (£16).
Back to the apartment by taxi before a well earned rest.
Day 7
Jumped on the Metro to Dubai mall this morning to have a proper look round.
We did the Aquarium walk-through and underwater zoo combo ticket with our Entertainer voucher.
The fish and corals seem to have matured quite well since my visit 4 years ago, also the zoo now has a reptile section upstairs and an addition of a fricking huge crocodile,
great value for money.
After that I popped out to the valet parking for some car spotting but only saw a Bentley :(, we carried on around the shops and Sega world until it was time to go up the Burj.
They seem to have added some bits since last time as I didn't remember there being a moving walkway to get to the lifts.
The view as always was amazing, quite a bit of dust in the air so the sunset wasn't great,
we watched the fountain show from above
and by then it was nice and dark so took some photos of the lit up skyscrapers.
Once at the bottom and Iftar was upon us we headed to the cheesecake factory again, I was boring and had the same meal as it was really tasty.
We then went to watch the fountain show from ground level, I was told they keep it low key during Ramadan so was surprised when it started to the loud sound of Michael Jackson - Thriller,
a great show.
We headed to Mall of the Emirates, and decided to get some take out cheesecake again and do a bit of souvenir shopping, my flip flops then broke so I spent the next 30 mins hopping about trying to find a cheap pair which I ended up getting from Carrefour for 13aed,can't argue at £2.15 ish for a pair of flops.
Back towards the metro where we stopped for a shake at Coldstone creamery using an entertainer voucher, it was half 12 so we headed for the metro which had stopped running so we got a cab, I was very surprised that it only cost 21aed (£3.50) to get from emirates mall to Dubai Marina.
Back to the apartment for a drink and sleep.
Day 8
Popped to Dubai mall late morning for a bit of car spotting which wasn't very successful as it was too early but I did see some.
Pick up for our desert safari was supposed to be between 15:45 and 16:15 but the driver went to Al Habtoor hotel instead of Al Habtoor Tower even though the instructions were in the email. He called me and I tried to explain but he couldn't understand so I passed the phone to the security who tried to explain in Indian but the driver still couldn't understand so he passed the phone to a delivery driver outside with no luck, eventually he did turn up.
We then had some others to pick up,he got the address wrong for them too and when we finally got there the girls didn't come out so he was trying to contact them, we were waiting there for 20 mins, we were now running late.
He asked us if any of us fancied quad biking at an extra cost which we said no to, he told us we would skip that stop but he still stopped there, it was already 45 mind to sundown, we got in the car and had to then wait for some other care whose occupants were on the quads and didn't seem to want to get off them, I was ready to kill someone now.
When they finally got back we set off onto the desert, their car got lost so we has to carry on without them,
The dune bashing was a lot rougher than I remembered but that was probably because we were so late, we had no stops to watch the sun set and Kat was feeling sick and petrified from the driving.
When we got to the camp, I realised it was a shared camp, the camel rides didn't happen because the guy in charge was doing something else so we went in.
Nothing was free apart from the food and soft drinks, the entertainer was a guy in a colourful dress with lights on, looked quite cool
but when that finished we were told to leave, I was only half way through my food and we had only been there 45 mins, ridiculous, I now know why it was so cheap.
We started our journey back, Kat was still petrified and the driver had said because of the way she was feeling that he'd take it easy which he didn't.
I personally loved the driving part even though it was shorter than last time but I would strongly advise nobody to book with this company.
When we got back we went to get some ice cream and then walked to Barasti bar for 1 drink and then jumped in a taxi to Hilton residence JBR, and the Pure sky view bar.
Bulmers was 60aed, we just had the one before having a wander along the strip
and then got a taxi to the apartment.
We popped in Stefano's for a peppermint shisha and diet coke before going to bed
